where is all the coolant going?

[Fun_Bucket]

So i've put around 15 litres of coolant in within the past few months. Once again, the coolant in the resivior is empty, and the radiator needs to be topped up. But i cant see the coolant going anywhere. When i move the car after its been parked, there's nothing that has leaked down. Where the hell is it all going? Ultratune said if my headgasket was stuffed, the coolant could be entering the engine, which would also expalin its slight missfire

[Dan355]

Yea could be the answer. Check that coolant in the radiator doesnt have bubbles when the motor is running.

[Fun_Bucket]

when i run the engine with the radiator cap off, it bubbles a little after a few minutes?

[levymetal]

so the system is bled correctly? if you have an air lock somewhere, it will force all the water out of the overflow.

if so, possibly intake manifold gasket. if you don't see oil in your water/water in oil then you should be ok with the head gaskets, but could still possibly be them...

what i'm about to tell you is copyright (c) morton:
when you start up the car, do you get white smoke? even when it's a hot day? might be leaking into your pistons overnight: depressurize the fuel system the night before, take out the spark plugs in the morning, cover the holes in paper towels, and see if any of them get wet with water

[markER717]

Check the intake manifold gasket, I just had to replace mine no too long a go, not a hard job woulda got it done quicker if I didn't stuff around and polish the manifold and paint the injector rail lol.

[Dan355]

It sounds like a head gasket is gone.

[Fun_Bucket]

Blows a fair bit of white smoke from the exhaust- shit i really hope it isnt the head gasket!! are there any other signs the head gasket is stuffed. It still has a lot of get up and go though..

[Morton]

Easiest and cheapest way to tell what's going on, is to do an oil change. Then you'll know straight away what's what.

[VRCITY]

check those heads sunshine...reckon the copywrited paper towel idea is your way to go for a more defined answer...also check plugs...one or more might show a bit clean or less worn than the others

[Fun_Bucket]

Morton, just did oil change the other day. What should i have been looking for? Oil looked good, was only i there for a few thousand kays, i only changed it to give a semi synthetic a go..
VRCity, plugs are brand spankers..
What will the paper towel exersise determine, does water mean its getting into the engine, through a stuffed head gasket?

[Morton]

You should be looking for ANY hint of water in there. Slightly milky colour, separating fluid, etc.

Do my paper towel test next time you're not using the car for a couple of days, this will tell you if water is falling into your chambers overnight.

[VRCITY]

ok so plugs a bummer um...paper towel tells you water is getting into the cylinders that show wet wen you were to start i... as to weather it is from the inlet manifold gasket or from the head...if you do a total cooling bleed...empty and refill and you still get bubbles in the radiator afterward then your most likely done a head...and seeing you will have to empty your cooling system to replace either a inlet manifold or had gasket...you have nothing to lose...and the oil you shoul be looking for a colour similar to choc milk cause even the slightest cloudy tinge can indicate water contaminent. other wise the oil would have the colour of dirty golden syrup...lol

[rob drag racer]

whack a couple bottles of stop leak in it

[Cobez]

I have a good pointer too, DON't go to Ultratune. Find a good local independant mechanic

[Fun_Bucket]

I have a good pointer too, DON't go to Ultratune. Find a good local independant mechanic

I was going to take it to them, because i need to have a missfire diagnosed...

[aussieghostrider]

100% its inlet manifold gasket ....

same symptoms as you ... misfire at low revs/idle

loses water over time ....

it will get worse and will stall on you ....

I put few bottles cargo stop leak just so I could keep car going ...

Im getting inlet manifold gasket replaced this week ... $300

the gaskets $50 ...

you can damage pistons and your oxygen sensor will corrode and die quicker than usual ..

get the inlet manifold gasket replaced and also get a new oxygen sensor and new spark plugs ... I bet your fuel economy will be great then ... and also faster acceleration etc ..

The gasket expands as engine warms up and when engine cools down unexpands ... over many years it cant do either and you get all these problems .. over few months it went from slight miss , vibration at traffic lights , stalling ... put bottle cargo stop leak in and it went back to a slight miss again so I knew 100% inlet manifold gasket...

[Fun_Bucket]

yeah when i start it, it wants to stall until its warmed up, i have to feather the throttle to keep it running. $50 is alright, if i can fit it myself..

[Fun_Bucket]

If the gasket on the intake manifold was gone, how would this affect where the coolant is going? does it still enter the engine somehow?

[aussieghostrider]

the gasket seperates oil and water from mixing at the top of engine where it sits , gasket is stuffed leaks water into cylinders and burns it off causing bad idle.You can have oil and water mixing also ... it just depends on where on the gasket is broke ... the gasket is big and has many sections on it.


your coolant is turning to vapour and coming out your exhaust !!!!

[delcowizzid]

yip goe in the cylinder and burns out the exhaust when you start up if theres to much in there the plug wont fir for a we while till it dries out too.my vp used coolant slowly from leaking inlet manifolds too

[Fun_Bucket]

Been doing some more reading, and the term "welsh plug" was mentioned a few times, with similar symptoms. Can some one tell me what the welsh plug is, and what it does?
Also, with basic tools, and (some) mechanical knowledge, could i change the intake manifold gasket myslef?

[markER717]

Yeah mate I did mine myself, its fairly easy. If you do decide to go through and do it yourself and get stuck, just pm me I'll be glad to help; plus the memory is still fresh. Before that go to your local mech or do it yourself just need to get a 'pressure tester' from repco or the like($30?). All you do it put it on the header tank with the correct attachment and pump to about 15 psi and if it holds then you shouldn't have a leak. If you hear any bubbles, or see any leaks while doing the test near the manifold its defiantly that. Also the welsh plugs are metal plugs in your block, they are there because when the block was made holes were needed to get rid of shavings and dust from block, so they made welsh plugs so they could remove the crap easily and seal block. They do wear sometimes due to heat ect.

[ScoHar]

Welch plugs are as above, but also work as a safety mechanism, for when coolant freezes in the block, otherwise known as frost plugs. you guys prob don't have that problem there though with your weather. also known as freeze plug, core plug, expansion plug.

and copied from the net.

A true freeze plug is an expansion plug located in the side of an engine block that is supposed to protect the block against freeze damage. Water expands when it turns to ice, and if the coolant does not have enough antifreeze protection it can freeze and crack the engine block. The freeze plugs (there are usually several) are supposed to pop out under such conditions to relieve the pressure on the block.

[markER717]

I knew I was forgetting something ScoHar. xD

[Fun_Bucket]

Ok, so the answers to all my questions-
The inlet manifold gasket were gone. There was like half a gasket left on either side!! and the engine was full of coolant! One of the head gaskets is gone aswell. And both the water hoses were coroded. Also my water pump was stuffed too.

So tommorow, both head gaskets are being done, heads are being shaved, new manifold gaskets, new water pump, new crank angle sensor, new drive belt,new water hoses, and 10-40 Fully Synthetic Oil going in. As much as i was dissapointed to hear all that was wrong, i'm looking forward to seeing how it runs tommorow night, after everything is done.